Trainable transceiver and camera systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A system for installation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device includes a camera, a trainable transceiver, and a control circuit coupled to the camera and the trainable transceiver. The control circuit is configured to use geographic location information to determine when to initiate a process of using the camera to identify the remote device and transmit an activation signal formatted to control the remote device. Upon initiation of the process, the control circuit is configured to use the camera to identify the remote device by comparing information received via the camera to information stored in memory, and wherein the control circuit is configured to automatically transmit an activation signal formatted to control the remote device, using the trainable transceiver, in response to identifying the remote device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/981,527, filed Apr. 18, 2014, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to the field of trainabletransceivers for inclusion within a vehicle. A trainable transceivergenerally sends and/or receives wireless signals using a transmitter,receiver, and/or transceiver. The wireless signals may be used tocontrol other devices. For example, a trainable transceiver may send awireless control signal to operate a garage door opener. A trainabletransceiver may be trained to operate with a particular device. Trainingmay include providing the trainable transceiver with control informationfor use in generating a control signal. A trainable transceiver may beincorporated in a vehicle (integrally or contained within the vehicle)and used to control devices outside the vehicle. It is challenging anddifficult to develop trainable transceivers which are easy to train tooperate a variety of devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment relates to a system for installation in a vehicle and forcontrolling a remote device includes a camera, a trainable transceiver,and a control circuit coupled to the camera and the trainabletransceiver. The control circuit is configured to use geographiclocation information to determine when to initiate a process of usingthe camera to identify the remote device and transmit an activationsignal formatted to control the remote device. Upon initiation of theprocess, the control circuit is configured to use the camera to identifythe remote device by comparing information received via the camera toinformation stored in memory, and wherein the control circuit isconfigured to automatically transmit an activation signal formatted tocontrol the remote device, using the trainable transceiver, in responseto identifying the remote device.

Another embodiment relates to a system for installation in a vehicle andfor controlling a remote device including a trainable transceiver, acamera, and a control circuit coupled to the trainable transceiver andthe camera. The control circuit is configured to use the camera toidentify the remote device by (A) comparing information received via thecamera to information stored in memory and (B) comparing geographiclocation information corresponding to a positon of the vehicle withgeographic information stored in memory and corresponding to one or moreremote devices. The control circuit is further configured toautomatically transmit an activation signal formatted to control theremote device, using the trainable transceiver, in response toidentifying the remote device.

Another embodiment relates to a method controlling a remote device usinga system in a vehicle including receiving, at a control circuit of thesystem, geographic information corresponding to the location of thevehicle and comparing the geographic information corresponding to thelocation of the vehicle with geographic information stored in memory ofthe system and corresponding to the remote device. The method furtherincludes determining, based on the comparison of the geographicinformation, whether the vehicle is within a predetermined distance ofthe remote device and in response to determining that the vehicle iswithin the predetermined distance: receiving, via a camera of the systemand at the control circuit, image data; comparing, using the controlcircuit, the received image data to information stored in memory andcorresponding to the remote device; and in response to identifying theremote device, via the comparison, transmitting an activation signalformatted to control the remote device.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be inany way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments,and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and featureswill become apparent by reference to the drawings and the followingdetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is illustrates a vehicle including a camera and a plurality oflocations for a trainable transceiver according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 2A illustrates a trainable transceiver, mobile communicationsdevice, original transmitter, home electronic device, and remote deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2B illustrates an embodiment of a trainable transceiver having acamera interface for communicating with a camera.

FIG. 2C illustrates an embodiment of a trainable transceiver incommunication with a vehicle electronics system.

FIG. 2D illustrates a trainable transceiver coupled to a rear viewmirror of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2E illustrates a trainable transceiver sharing one or morecomponents with a rear view mirror of a vehicle according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a trainable transceiver communicating with a homeelectronics device based in part on an image and/or image data receivedfrom a camera.

FIG. 4A illustrates a machine readable image that may be read by atrainable transceiver coupled to a camera according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 4B illustrates an invisible image that may be read by a trainabletransceiver coupled to a camera according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4C illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a home electronics devicecoupled to infrared light emitting diodes which transmit informationwhich may be received by a trainable transceiver coupled to a camera.

FIG. 5A illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a control scheme for atrainable transceiver to control multiple devices using a combination ofcameras and positioning information.

FIG. 5B illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a control scheme for atrainable transceiver to control multiple devices using cameras.

FIG. 5C illustrates a trainable transceiver having a global positioningsystem interface according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6A illustrates a trainable transceiver having three input buttonsaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6B illustrates a trainable transceiver having a multiple channelbutton.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally, a trainable transceiver controls one or more home electronicdevices and/or remote devices. For example, the trainable transceivermay be a Homelink™ trainable transceiver. Home electronic devices mayinclude devices such as a garage door opener, gate opener, lights,security system, and/or other device which is configured to receiveactivation signals and/or control signals. A home electronic device neednot be associated with a residence but can also include devicesassociated with businesses, government buildings or locations, or otherfixed locations. Remote devices may include mobile computing devicessuch as mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, laptops, computing hardwarein other vehicles, and/or other devices configured to receive activationsignals and/or control signals.

Activation signals may be wired or, preferably, wireless signalstransmitted to a home electronic device and/or remote device. Activationsignals may include control signals, control data, encryptioninformation (e.g., a rolling code, rolling code seed, look-a-head codes,secret key, fixed code, or other information related to an encryptiontechnique), or other information transmitted to a home electronic deviceand/or remote device. Activation signals may have parameters such asfrequency or frequencies of transmission (e.g., channels), encryptioninformation (e.g., a rolling code, fixed code, or other informationrelated to an encryption technique), identification information (e.g., aserial number, make, model or other information identifying a homeelectronic device, remote device, and/or other device), and/or otherinformation related to formatting an activation signal to control aparticular home electronic device and/or remote device.

In some embodiments, the trainable transceiver receives information fromone or more home electronic devices and/or remote devices. The trainabletransceiver may receive information using the same transceiver user tosend activation signals and/or other information to home electronicdevices and/or remote devices. The same wireless transmission scheme,protocol, and/or hardware may be used from transmitting and receiving.The trainable transceiver may have two way communication with homeelectronic devices and/or remote devices. In other embodiments, thetrainable transceiver includes additional hardware for two waycommunication with devices and/or receiving information from devices. Insome embodiments, the trainable transceiver has only one waycommunication with a home electronic device and/or remote device (e.g.,sending activation signals to the device). The trainable transceiver mayreceive information about the home electronic device and/or remotedevice using additional hardware. The information about the homeelectronic device and/or remote device may be received from anintermediary device such as an additional remote device and/or mobilecommunication device.

A trainable transceiver may also receive information from and/ortransmit information to other devices configured to communicate with thetrainable transceiver. For example, a trainable transceiver may receiveinformation from cameras (e.g., imaging information may be received)and/or other sensors. The cameras, and the information receivedtherefrom, may assist in the training and/or operation of the trainabletransceiver.

The cameras and/or other sensors may communicate with a trainabletransceiver wirelessly (e.g., using one or more transceivers) or througha wired connection. In some embodiments, a trainable transceiver maycommunicate with mobile communications devices (e.g., cell phones,tablets, smartphones, or other communication devices). In still furtherembodiments, the trainable transceiver is configured to communicate withnetworking equipment such as routers, servers, switches, and/or otherhardware for enabling network communication. The network may be theinternet and/or a cloud architecture.

In some embodiments, the trainable transceiver transmits and/or receivesinformation (e.g., activation signals, control signals, control data,status information, or other information) using a radio frequencysignal. For example, the transceiver may transmit and/or receive radiofrequency signals in the ultra-high frequency range, typically between260 and 960 megahertz (MHz) although other frequencies may be used. Inother embodiments, a trainable transceiver may include additionalhardware for transmitting and/or receiving signals (e.g., activationsignals and/or signals for transmitting and/or receiving otherinformation). For example, a trainable transceiver may include a lightsensor and/or light emitting element, a microphone and/or speaker, acellular transceiver, an infrared transceiver, or other communicationdevice.

A trainable transceiver may be configured (e.g., trained) to sendactivation signals and/or other information to a particular deviceand/or receive control signals and/or information from a particulardevice. The trainable transceiver may be trained by a user to work withparticular remote devices and/or home electronic devices (e.g., a garagedoor opener). For example, a user may manually input control informationinto the trainable transceiver to configure the trainable transceiver tocontrol the device. A trainable transceiver may also learn controlinformation from an original transmitter. A trainable transceiver mayreceive a signal containing control information from an originaltransmitter (e.g., a remote sold with a home electronic device) anddetermine control information from the received signal. Traininginformation (e.g., activation signal frequency, device identificationinformation, encryption information, modulation scheme used by thedevice, or other information related to controlling a device via anactivation signal) may also be received by a trainable transceiver froma remote device, mobile communications device, or other source.

Referring to FIG. 1, a trainable transceiver 20 may be mounted orotherwise attached to a vehicle 10 in a variety of locations. Forexample, the trainable transceiver 20 may be integrated into a dashboardor center stack (e.g., infotainment center) 12 of the vehicle 10. Thetrainable transceiver 20 may be integrated into the vehicle 10 by avehicle manufacturer. A trainable transceiver may be located in otherperipheral locations. For example, a trainable transceiver may beremovably mounted to a visor 14. The trainable transceiver may includemounting hardware such as a clip. A trainable transceiver may be mountedto other surfaces of a vehicle (e.g., dashboard, windshield, door panel,or other vehicle component). For example, a trainable transceiver may besecured with adhesive. In some embodiments, a trainable transceiver isintegrated in a rear view mirror 16 of the vehicle. A vehiclemanufacturer may include a trainable transceiver in the rear viewmirror.

In other embodiments, a vehicle 10 may be retrofit to include atrainable transceiver 20. This may include attaching a trainabletransceiver 20 to a vehicle surface using a clip, adhesive, or othermounting hardware as described above. Alternatively, it may includereplacing a vehicle component with one that includes an integratedtrainable transceiver 20 and/or installing a vehicle component whichincludes an integrated trainable transceiver 20. For example, anaftermarket rear view mirror, vehicle camera system (e.g., one or morecameras and one or more display screens), and/or infotainment center mayinclude an integrated trainable transceiver 20. In further embodiments,one or more components of a trainable transceiver 20 may be distributedwithin the vehicle 10.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 may include one or morecameras. The trainable transceiver 20 may communicate with one or morecameras 18 and 19 of the vehicle 10. The camera may be included in thevehicle 10 for tasks such as providing a backup camera system, recordingtraffic incidents or other footage related to the vehicle, providingsecurity, monitoring and/or measuring a vehicle's surrounding, and/orperforming other camera related functions. Cameras may be installed by avehicle manufacturer and/or be produced by an original equipmentmanufacturer. In other embodiments, cameras may be installed as anaftermarket addition to a vehicle. In some embodiments, the vehicle 10may include a front facing camera 18 and/or a rear facing camera 19. Avehicle may include additional cameras. For example, a vehicle mayinclude a plurality of rear facing cameras 19, a plurality of frontfacing cameras 18, cameras facing either side of the vehicle 10, camerasfacing the below and/or above the vehicle 10, cameras facing theinterior of the vehicle 10, and/or cameras located in other areas of thevehicle 10 internal and/or external to the vehicle 10 and viewing aninternal portion of the vehicle 10 and/or viewing outside of and/oraround the vehicle 10.

In some embodiments, the trainable transceiver 20 may communicate withcameras located in or on another vehicle, cameras mounted in or on astructure (e.g., a garage, home, office, and/or other building). In someembodiments, cameras may be integrated with vehicle 10 components. Forexample, a camera may be integrated with a rear view mirror.

Communication with the cameras 18 or 19 may allow the trainabletransceiver 20 to perform a variety of tasks associated with controllinga home electronics device, remote device, vehicle remote start system,and/or other devices. For example, the cameras 18 or 19 may be used bythe trainable transceiver 20 to identify a device (e.g., to be activatedor trained-to) and format an activation signal to control that device.The cameras 18 or 19 may be used by the trainable transceiver 20 todetermine if the vehicle 10 is well positioned within a garage andprevent a garage door opener from closing a garage door that would comeinto contact with the vehicle 10. The cameras 18 or 19 may be used todetermine if a garage door is closed when the vehicle 10 is remotestarted and provide this information to the trainable transceiver 20which may control the garage door opener and cause the garage door to beopened. Other functions as described herein may enhance thefunctionality of the trainable transceiver 20 by making use of a cameraand/or other hardware or devices

Referring now to FIG. 2A, the components of the trainable transceiver 20are illustrated according to an exemplary embodiment. In one embodiment,the trainable transceiver 20 includes an operator input device 22. Theoperator input device 22 may be one or more buttons. For example, theoperator input device may be three hard key buttons. In someembodiments, the operator input device 22 may include input devices suchas touchscreen displays, switches, microphones, knobs, touch sensor(e.g., projected capacitance sensor resistance based touch sensor,resistive touch sensor, or other touch sensor), proximity sensors (e.g.,projected capacitance, infrared, ultrasound, infrared, or otherproximity sensor), or other hardware configured to generate an inputfrom a user action.

The operator input device 22 may display data to a user or other provideoutputs. For example, the operator input device 22 may include a displayscreen (e.g., a display as part of a touchscreen, liquid crystaldisplay, e-ink display, plasma display, light emitting diode (LED)display, or other display device), speaker, haptic feedback device(e.g., vibration motor), LEDs, or other hardware component for providingan output.

The operator input device 22 is connected to a control circuit 24. Thecontrol circuit 24 may receive input signals, instructions, and/or datafrom the operator input device. The control circuit 24 may processsignals received from the operator input device 22. The control circuit24 may also send information and or control signals or instructions tothe operator input device 22. For example, the control circuit 24 maysend output instructions to the operator input device 22 causing thedisplay of an image.

The control circuit 24 may include various types of control circuitry,digital and/or analog, and may include a microprocessor,microcontroller, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC),graphics processing unit (GPU), or other circuitry configured to performvarious input/output, control, analysis, and other functions to bedescribed herein. In other embodiments, the control circuit may be a SoCindividually or with additional hardware components described herein.The control circuit 24 may further include, in some embodiments, memory(e.g., random access memory, read only memory, flash memory, hard diskstorage, flash memory storage, solid state drive memory, etc.). Infurther embodiments, the control circuit 24 may function as a controllerfor one or more hardware components included in the trainabletransceiver. For example, the control circuit 24 may function as acontroller for a touchscreen display or other operator input device, acontroller for a transceiver, transmitter, receiver, or othercommunication device (e.g., implement a Bluetooth communicationsprotocol).

The control circuit 24 is coupled to memory 26. Memory 26 may be used tofacilitate the functions of the trainable transceiver described herein.Memory 26 may be volatile and/or non-volatile memory. For example,memory 26 may be random access memory, read only memory, flash memory,hard disk storage, flash memory storage, solid state drive memory, etc.In some embodiments, the control circuit 24 reads and writes to memory26. Memory 26 may include computer code modules, data, computerinstructions, or other information which may be executed by the controlcircuit 24 or otherwise facilitate the functions of the trainabletransceiver 20 described herein. For example, memory 26 may includeencryption codes, pairing information, identification information, adevice registry, encryption instructions, training instructions, orother data or instructions configured to provide the activities notedherein.

The trainable transceiver 20 may further include a transceiver circuit28 coupled to the control circuit 24. The transceiver circuit 28 allowsthe trainable transceiver 20 to transmit and/or receive wirelesscommunication signals. The wireless communication signals may betransmitted to or received from a variety of wireless devices (e.g.,original transmitter 40, home electronic device 42, mobilecommunications device 44, and/or remote device 46). The transceivercircuit 28 may be controlled by the control circuit 24. For example, thecontrol circuit 24 may turn on or off the transceiver circuit 28; thecontrol circuit may send data using the transceiver circuit 28, formatinformation, an activation signal, control signal, and/or other signalor data for transmission via the transceiver circuit 28, or otherwisecontrol the transceiver circuit 28. Inputs from the transceiver circuit28 may also be received by the control circuit 24. In some embodiments,the transceiver circuit 28 may include additional hardware such asprocessors, memory, integrated circuits, antennas, etc. The transceivercircuit 28 may process information prior to transmission or uponreception and prior to passing the information to the control circuit24. In some embodiments, the transceiver circuit 28 may be coupleddirectly to memory 26 (e.g., to store encryption data, retrieveencryption data, etc.). In further embodiments, the transceiver circuit28 may include one or more transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.For example, the transceiver circuit 28 may include an opticaltransceiver, near field communication (NFC) transceiver, etc. In someembodiments, the transceiver circuit 28 may be implemented as a SoC(e.g., incorporating all or a plurality of the components shown in FIG.2A).

When the control circuit 24 receives inputs from operator input devices22 and processes the inputs, the inputs may be converted into controlsignals, data, inputs to be sent to the base station, or otherwiseprocessed. The control circuit 24 may control the transceiver circuit 28and use the transceiver circuit 28 to communicate (e.g., receive signalsand/or transmit signals) with one or more of original transmitters 40,home electronic devices 42, mobile communication devices 44, and/orremote devices 46. The control circuit 24 may also be used to in thetraining process.

In further embodiments, the control circuit 24 is coupled to additionaltransceiver circuits, receivers, and/or transmitters. In one embodiment,the transceiver circuit 28 is used for communicating with (transmittingto and/or receiving from) home electronic devices and/or remote devices.Additional transceivers may be used to communicate with other devices(e.g., mobile communications devices, cameras, network devices, or otherwireless devices). The transceiver circuit 28 and other transceivers mayoperate using different frequency, transmission spectrums, protocols,and/or otherwise transmit and/or receive signals using differenttechniques. For example, the transceiver circuit 28 may be configured tosend activation signals to a home electronic device 42 (e.g., a garagedoor opener) using an encrypted radio wave transmission and anadditional transceiver may communicate with a remote communicationsdevice 46 (e.g., a smartphone) using a Bluetooth transceiver andBluetooth communications protocol.

The trainable transceiver 20 may communicate with original transmitters40, home electronic devices 42, remote devices 46, mobile communicationsdevices 44, network devices, and/or other devices as described aboveusing the transceiver circuit 28 and/or other additional transceivercircuits or hardware. The devices with which the trainable transceiver20 communicates may include transceivers, transmitters, and/orreceivers. The communication may be one-way or two-way communication.

In one alternative embodiment, the trainable transceiver 20 is adistributed system. A remote user interface module may contain operatorinput devices, a power source, a control circuit, memory, outputdevices, and/or communications hardware. The remote user interfacemodule may communicate with a base station located apart from the remoteuser interface module. For example, the remote user interface module mayinclude a transceiver used to communicate with the base station. Thebase station may communicate with the remote user interface module usinga transceiver circuit and/or an additional transceiver such as thosediscussed above. The remote user interface module may process userinputs and send information to a base station with a transceiver circuitconfigured to send an activation signal and/or other signal to anotherdevice. The base station may include a more powerful (e.g., longerrange) transceiver than the transceiver(s) in the remote user interfacemodule.

In some embodiments, the remote user interface module may contain atransceiver configured to allow communication between the remote userinterface module and another device such as a remote device and/ormobile communications device. The remote user interface module may serveas a communication bridge between a remote device or mobilecommunications device and another device such as the base station or ahome electronics device or remote device in communication with the basestation.

With continued reference to FIG. 2A, the trainable transceiver 20 mayinclude a power supply 30. The power supply 30 provides electrical powerto the components of the trainable transceiver 20. In one embodiment,the power supply 30 is self-contained. For example, the power supply 30may be a battery, solar cell, or other power source not requiring awired connection to another source of electrical power. In otherembodiments, the power supply 30 may be a wired connection to anotherpower source. For example, the power supply 30 may be a wired connectionto a vehicle power supply system. The power supply 30 may be integratedinto the vehicle electrical system. This may allow the trainabletransceiver 20 to draw electrical power from a vehicle battery, beturned on or off by a vehicle electrical system (e.g., turned off whenthe vehicle is turned off, turned on when a vehicle door is opened,etc.), draw power provided by a vehicle alternator, or otherwise beintegrated with the electrical power systems(s) of the vehicle 10.

The trainable transceiver 20 may also include one or more camerainterfaces 32. The camera interface 32 may include hardware componentsfor interfacing with one or more cameras 34. For example, the camerainterface 32 may include wiring, multiplexing circuitry, connectors,ports (e.g., universal serial bus (USB) ports, high-definitionmultimedia interface (HDMI) ports, video graphics array (VGA) ports,and/or other connections), buses, wireless communication hardware,and/or other components which allow one or more cameras 34 tocommunicate with the trainable transceiver 20. Camera interface 32allows for communication between onboard cameras 34 and control circuit24. Camera interface 32 may further or alternatively providecommunication between remotely located cameras 34 and trainabletransceiver 20. In some embodiments, the camera interface 32 includeshardware and/or software for handling camera input (e.g., image data),processing camera input, and/or generating output to one or more cameras34 (e.g., control information). For example, the camera interface 32 mayinclude circuitry, microprocessor, microcontroller, application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), graphics processing unit (GPU), or othercircuitry configured to perform various input/output, control,processing, and other functions to be described herein. In otherembodiments, the camera interface 32 may be a SoC individually or withadditional hardware components described herein. The camera interface 32may further include, in some embodiments, memory (e.g., random accessmemory, read only memory, flash memory, hard disk storage, flash memorystorage, solid state drive memory, etc.). In further embodiments, thecamera interface 32 may be a controller for one or more cameras 34.

In some embodiments, the camera interface 32 is integral to and/or partof the control circuit 24. The control circuit 24 may perform thefunctions described herein with reference to the camera interface 32. Inother embodiments, the camera interface 32 may be or be replaced by oneor more cameras or sensors coupled to the control circuit 24. Forexample, cameras 34 may provide input to the control circuit 24 and/orreceive outputs from the control circuit 24 directly without a camerainterface 32 or other intermediate hardware components.

Input received by the camera interface 32 and/or control circuit 24 mayinclude a frame buffer, sensor, data, image information, cameraidentification information (e.g., which camera front, rear, side, etc.is associated with the camera output), and/or other information and/ordata output from one or more cameras. Input may be processed usingalgorithms stored in memory 26 and or processing circuits or elementssuch as those described above. Processing of information from one ormore cameras (e.g., onboard cameras or remotely located cameras) mayinclude digital imaging processing and/or digital signal analysis. Thismay include classification, feature extraction, pattern recognition,multi-scale signal analysis, reading a machine readable representation,and/or other use of algorithms and/or programs to process informationfrom one or more cameras. In one embodiment, the camera interface 32performs image processing. In other embodiments, image processing isperformed by the control circuit 24.

The control circuit 24 and/or camera interface 32 may also provideoutput to one or more cameras directly or through the camera interface32. Output may include control signals for turning on or off a camera,switching between camera inputs, focusing a camera, and/or otherwisecontrolling one or more cameras connected to the trainable transceiver20. Output from the control circuit 24 and/or camera interface 32 mayalso include a frame buffer, image file, image data, cameraidentification information, and/or other information related to theinput received from one or more cameras. For example, an image may beoutput to a display in communication with the trainable transceiver 20and/or integrated into the trainable transceiver 20. The trainabletransceiver 20 may transmit image information (e.g., an image file,frame buffer(s), etc.) to one or more devices in communication with thetrainable transceiver 20. For example, the trainable transceiver 20 maytransmit an image to a home electronic device 42, remote device 46,mobile communication device 44, network device, and/or other deviceconfigured to receive transmissions from the trainable transceiver 20.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, the camera interface 32 may communicatewirelessly with one or more cameras associated with the vehicle 10, suchas the front facing camera 18, the rear facing camera 19, or a garagecamera 36. In some embodiments, the camera interface 32 includes or is awireless receiver or transceiver configured to communicate wirelesslywith one or more cameras. For example, the camera interface 32 mayinclude a radio frequency transceiver (e.g., configured to operate at aspecific frequency such as 2.4 GHz), and the cameras may include a radiofrequency transceiver. The radio frequency transmissions between thecamera and the camera interface 32 may be encrypted or otherwisesecured. In other embodiments, the camera and the camera interface 32may communicate using other protocols, transmission spectra, and/orcommunication hardware. For example, the camera interface 32 may includeor be a wireless router and the cameras may be internet protocolcameras.

Referring now to FIG. 2C, a trainable transceiver is illustrated,according to an exemplary embodiment, including a connection to avehicle electronics system 50 including one or more cameras (e.g., frontfacing camera 18 and rear facing camera 19). The vehicle electronicssystem 50 may include processors 52 (e.g., electronic control units(ECU), engine control modules (ECM), or other vehicle processors),memory 54, buses (e.g., controller area network (CAN) bus, sensors,on-board diagnostics equipment (e.g., following the (OBD)-II standard orother protocol), cameras, displays, infotainment systems, transceivers,and/or other components integrated with a vehicle's electronics systems50 or otherwise networked (e.g., a controller area network of vehiclecomponents). In one embodiment, the camera interface 32 of the trainabletransceiver 20 is in communication with the CAN bus of the vehicle.Communication with the CAN bus of the vehicle may provide for thetrainable transceiver 20 access to the front facing camera 18, the rearfacing camera 19, and/or other camera integrated with the vehicleelectronic system 50. The camera interface 32 and/or control circuit 24may retrieve image data from the cameras, control the cameras, and/orotherwise interact with the cameras. In some embodiments, components ofthe vehicle electronics system 50 may process (e.g., using one or morevehicle processors 52) data or information form one or more cameras(e.g., garage camera 36, rear facing camera 19, from facing camera 18,camera 38, etc.). For example, the vehicle electronics system 50 maycreate a frame buffer, image file, or other image data based on inputreceived by one or more onboard cameras (e.g., rear facing camera 19,from facing camera 18, etc.). In one embodiment, the camera interface 32and/or control circuit 24 of the trainable transceiver 20 receivesprocessed data or information related to the cameras from the vehicleelectronics system 50. For example, the camera interface 32 may readframe buffer data from memory 54 included in the vehicle electronicssystem 50.

In some embodiments, the trainable transceiver 20 receives informationrelated to a camera located outside the vehicle. For example, a cameraor cameras 36 may be located in a garage. In some embodiments, camerasare configured to transmit images and/or image information to a garagedoor opener 56. For example, cameras 36 may be in wireless communicationwith the garage door opener 56. Alternatively, cameras 36 may be wiredto the garage door opener 56 and provide images and/or image data to thegarage door opener 56 through wired communication. In some embodiments,the garage door opener 56 may include an integral camera or cameraotherwise coupled to the garage door opener 56 (e.g., mounted on thegarage door opener 56 and in communication with the garage door opener56). The garage door opener 56 may in turn provide images and/or imagedata to the trainable transceiver 20 by sending a wireless signal usinga transceiver. The wireless signal may be received by the transceivercircuit 28 of the trainable transceiver 20. In other embodiments, thegarage door opener 56 may communicate with the trainable transceiver 20using one or more intermediary devices and/or additional hardware.

Images and/or image data may be transmitted from a camera and/or devicecoupled to a camera using intermediate devices and/or hardware. In oneembodiment, the cameras are internet protocol (IP) cameras and/or thegarage door opener 56 includes hardware to connect to the internet(e.g., a networking device allowing wired or wireless communication withnetwork equipment such as a router, switch, modem, or other device). Inother embodiments, the cameras 36 or garage door opener 56 include awireless transceiver such as a radio frequency transceiver, Bluetoothtransceiver, cellular transceiver, or other communications device. Theabove described hardware may allow the cameras 36 and/or the garage dooropener 56 to transmit images and/or image data for reception by thetrainable transceiver 20.

In some embodiments, the images and/or image data are received by anintermediate device other than the trainable transceiver 20 which thencommunicates the images and/or image data to the trainable transceiver20. For example, the images and/or image data may be received by amobile communications device using a cellular transceiver and/orinternet access. The images and/or image data may then by communicatedto the trainable transceiver 20 using the transceiver circuit 28 or anadditional transceiver such as a Bluetooth transceiver. Alternatively,the images and/or image data may be received by a mobile communicationsdevice and transmitted to a vehicle electronics system 50 (e.g., asmartphone may be paired to a vehicle infotainment system andcommunicate using a Bluetooth protocol). The information received by theinfotainment system may be accessed by the trainable transceiver 20using a connection to the vehicle electronics system 50 (e.g., a camerainterface 32 or other hardware). In further embodiments, a remote devicemay be used to receive the images and/or image data and transmit it tothe trainable transceiver 20. Similarly, the images and/or image datamay be received by a vehicle using a cellular transceiver and/orinternet connection and the information accessed by the trainabletransceiver 20 through a connection to the vehicle electronics system50. In alternative embodiments, the trainable transceiver 20 may includea transceiver for directly receiving images and/or image data from acamera, device coupled to a camera, or an intermediate device. Forexample, the trainable transceiver 20 may include a cellular transceiverand/or connection to the internet allowing for wireless communicationwith a camera, device coupled to a camera, or an intermediate device.

In some embodiments, a home electronic device 42 is a camera, securitysystem, or other device coupled to or including a camera 38. Forexample, a security system may include one or more cameras and/or IPcameras. The security system may be configured to communicate with orconnect to the internet. In some embodiments, the security system mayinclude hardware for wireless communication such as a radio frequencytransceiver, cellular transceiver, or other device. Home electronicdevices 42 may include gate openers coupled to one or more cameras 38,lighting systems with light sensors and/or cameras, etc. The homeelectronic device 42 may provide images and/or image data received fromone or more cameras 38 to the trainable transceiver 20 by sending awireless signal using a transceiver. The wireless signal may be receivedby the transceiver circuit 28 of the trainable transceiver 20. In otherembodiments, the home electronic device 42 may communicate with thetrainable transceiver 20 using one or more intermediary devices and/oradditional hardware. The home electronics device 42 may communicate withthe trainable transceiver 20 using any of the techniques described abovewith reference to the garage door opener 56.

A camera included in or otherwise in communication (e.g., wired orwireless access to image data from a camera) with a remote device and/ormobile communications device may provide images and/or image data to thetrainable transceiver using communication hardware incorporated in thecoupled device. In some embodiments, a remote device and/or mobilecommunications device is coupled to or includes a camera. For example, alaptop, smartphone, tablet, game console, webcam, desktop computer, orother device may include an integrated camera and/or be coupled to acamera. Remote devices and/or mobile communications devices maycommunicate images and/or image data to the trainable transceiver 20. Insome embodiments, remote devices and/or mobile communication devicesinclude a transceiver which allows for communication with the trainabletransceiver 20 (e.g., using the transceiver circuit 28 or an additionaltransceiver of the trainable transceiver 20). In other embodiments,remote devices and/or mobile communications devices communicate with thetrainable transceiver 20 using one or more intermediate devices and/oradditional hardware. A home electronics device 42 (e.g., a remotedevice) may communicate with a trainable transceiver 20 using any of thetechniques described above with reference to a garage door opener

Communication between the trainable transceiver 20, a camera, and/orintermediate devices and/or hardware, as described above, may beunidirectional or bidirectional. For example, the trainable transceiver20 may send a request for images and/or image data to a camera and/orintermediate device. The camera and/or intermediate device may then sendthe requested information to the trainable transceiver 20 directly orthrough an intermediate device. Alternatively, the communication betweenthe trainable transceiver 20 and the camera and/or intermediate devicemay be unidirectional as regards images and/or image data. For example,the trainable transceiver 20 may send an activation signal, controlsignal, and/or other information to a device using the transceivercircuit 28 without including a request for images and/or image data. Ahome electronics device, remote device, network device, and/or mobilecommunications device may be programmed to transmit images and/or imagedata in response to an action triggered by the activation or othersignal and/or in response to receiving an activation or other signal.The trainable transceiver 20 may receive images and/or image data usingone or more of the above described techniques.

Referring now to FIG. 2D, a trainable transceiver coupled to rear viewmirror hardware is illustrated according to an exemplary embodiment. Thetrainable transceiver 20 may be coupled to or otherwise included in therear view mirror 16. Advantageously, this may allow the trainabletransceiver 20 to use hardware associated with the rear view mirror 16rather than duplicating the same hardware for use with the trainabletransceiver 20. This may save cost, simplify the manufacturing process,and/or otherwise improve the trainable transceiver system 20. The rearview mirror 16 may be installed in the vehicle 10 as part of an originalvehicle manufacturing process, as an additional piece of hardware, aspart of a retrofit instillation, to replace an existing mirror, orotherwise be added to the vehicle 10. The rear view mirror 16 may beuninstalled in the vehicle (e.g., packaged for sale for laterinstallation in the vehicle 10).

In one embodiment, the rear view mirror 16 includes a control circuit60. The control circuit 60 may contain circuitry, hardware, and/orsoftware for facilitating and/or performing the functions describedherein. The control circuit 60 may handle inputs, process inputs, runprograms, handle instructions, route information, control memory,control a processor, process data, generate outputs, communicate withother devices or hardware, and/or otherwise perform general or specificcomputing tasks. In some embodiments, the control circuit 60 includes aprocessor 62. The processor 62 may be implemented as a general-purposeprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), one ormore field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), a digital-signal-processor(DSP), a group of processing components, or other suitable electronicprocessing components.

In some embodiments, the control circuit includes memory 64. Memory 64is one or more devices (e.g. RAM, ROM, Flash Memory, hard disk storage,etc.) for storing data and/or computer code for facilitating the variousprocesses described herein. Memory 64 may be or include non-transientvolatile memory or non-volatile memory. Memory 64 may include databasecomponents, object code components, script components, or any other typeof information structure for supporting various activities andinformation structures described herein. Memory 64 may be communicablyconnected to the processor and provide computer code or instructions toprocessor for executing the processes described herein.

In some embodiments, the rear view mirror 16 includes one or more frontfacing cameras 66 and/or one or more rear facing cameras 68. The frontfacing camera 66 may be used alone or in conjunction with the controlcircuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16 to perform a variety of functions.For example, the front facing camera 66 may be used to provide driveraids such as automatically dimming headlights when oncoming cars aredetected (e.g., by the headlights of the oncoming car), detecting if thevehicle 10 is in its own lane, detecting rain or other weather,detecting a possible collision with another vehicle or object,recognizing traffic signs (e.g., extracting information from an imageincluding a traffic sign), detecting pedestrians, and/or otherwiseassisting a driver. The rear facing camera 68 may be used alone or inconjunction with the control circuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16 toperform a variety of functions. For example, the rear facing camera 68may be used as to determine when to dim the rear view mirror 16, as abackup camera, to detect objects behind the vehicle 10, to provide animage of the vehicle surroundings while reversing, and/or to otherwiseassist a driver of the vehicle 10. In further embodiments, the rear view16 mirror includes a camera which is positioned to record images of theinterior of the vehicle 10. The rear view mirror 16 can contain circuitsconfigured to use image information received at one or more cameras tocomplete and/or trigger the various activities (e.g., auto dimming,headlight adjustment, etc.) described in this paragraph.

In some embodiments, the front facing camera 66 is integrated with thehousing or another portion of the rear view mirror 16. For example, thecamera 66 may be located within the portion of the housing behind themirror. Alternatively, the front facing camera 66 may be located in aportion of the rear view mirror housing which connects the mirror to thewindshield and/or head liner. The camera 66 may be protected by thehousing which contacts the windshield at locations surrounding thecamera. The rear facing camera 68 may be integrated with the housing ofthe rear view mirror such that the rear facing camera has a line ofsight to the rear window of the vehicle.

The front facing camera 66 and/or the rear facing camera 68 may be wiredto a camera interface 70 in the rear view mirror 16 and/or wired to thecontrol circuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16. In some embodiments, thecamera interface 70 allows the rear view mirror 16 to receive imagesand/or image data from cameras remote to the rear view mirror 16. Forexample, the camera interface 70 may receive images and/or image datafrom a camera located on the front bumper of the vehicle, on the rearbumper of the vehicle, in a license plate frame, or other remotelocation. In some embodiments, the camera interface 70 receives imagesand/or image data via a wired connection with the camera remote to therear view mirror 16. In other embodiments, the camera interface 70receives images and/or image data wirelessly from one or cameras locatedremote from the rear view mirror 16. The camera interface 70 may includeone or more wireless transceivers.

In one embodiment, the rear view mirror 16 includes a display 72. Thedisplay 72 allows for visual communication with a user. The display 72may be configured to output a visual representation based on computerinstructions, control signals, computer code, frame buffers, and/orother electronic signals or information. In some embodiments, thedisplay 72 includes a graphics processing unit (GPU), controller, and/orother hardware to facilitate the handling of and display of graphicsinformation. In other embodiments, the display 72 does not includehardware for processing images or image data. The display 72 may be anyhardware configured to display images using the emission of light oranother technique. For example, the display 72 may be a liquid crystaldisplay, e-ink display, plasma display, light emitting diode (LED)display, or other display device. In some embodiments, the display 72may be part of or otherwise integrated with a user input device 74 suchas a touchscreen display (e.g., projected capacitance touchscreen,resistance based touchscreen, and/or touchscreen based on other touchsensing technology). The display 72 may be a touchscreen display. Insome embodiments, the display 72 is controlled by the control circuit 60of the rear view mirror 16. The display 72 may be used for functionssuch as displaying weather information, backup camera video feeds,warnings, compass heading, road information (e.g., current speed limit),navigation information, vehicle information (e.g., if a passenger is notwearing a seat belt), or information accessible by the vehicle and/or avehicle connected device (e.g., paired smartphone). The display 72 maybe located behind the glass of the mirror assembly itself. The display72 may be used to display images, but, when not in use, function as partof the mirror allowing a user to see towards the rear of the vehicle.

In some embodiments, the rear view mirror 16 includes an operator inputdevice 74. The operator input device 74 may allow a user to provideinputs to the control circuit of the rear view mirror. The operatorinput 74 device may include soft keys (touch screens, projectedcapacitance based buttons, resistance based buttons, etc.) and/or hardkeys (e.g., buttons, switches knobs, etc.), microphones, and/or otherhardware configured to accept user inputs. The operator input device 74may allow a user to control functions associated with the rear viewmirror 16 such as dimming, turning on or off auto dimming, placing anemergency call, etc. The operator input device 74 of the rear viewmirror 16 is coupled to the control circuit 60 of the rear view mirror16. The rear view mirror 16 may process inputs received from theoperator input device 74 (e.g., change the display, dim the mirror, playa sound using the speaker, or otherwise take an action, process theinput, and/or generate an output).

In some embodiments, the rear view mirror includes one or more speakers76. Speakers 76 may provide audio output. The sound produced by thespeaker 76 may be audible to an occupant within the vehicle 10. Thespeaker 76 provides audio output to an occupant for a variety offunctions. For example, the speaker 76 may provide an audible output toconvey a warning, a phone call, communication with service providers(e.g., emergency services, roadside assistance, or other telematicssystems), confirmation of an input, instructions on using the rear viewmirror, or other information.

The rear view mirror 16 may include one or more sensors 80. For example,the rear view mirror 16 may include light sensors 82, temperaturesensors, accelerometers, humidity sensors, microphones 84, and/or othersensors. Sensors 80 may be used to display information to an occupant ofthe vehicle 10 (e.g., current weather conditions) using the display 72of the rear view mirror 16 and/or other displays in the vehicle 10(e.g., center stack display, gauge cluster display, heads up display(HUD), etc.). Sensors 80 may also be used to accept user input and/ormeasure parameters related to the vehicle 10. For example, themicrophone 84 may be used to accept voice commands from an occupant ofthe vehicle 10. The accelerometer may be used to measure vehicledynamics and/or accept physical inputs from a user moving, adjusting,coming into contact with, bumping, shaking, or otherwise manipulatingthe rear view mirror. Sensor data may be processed, received, sent toother hardware, and/or otherwise manipulated by the control circuit 60of the rear view mirror 16.

In one embodiment, the rear view mirror 16 includes a power supply 86.The power supply 86 may be a replaceable or rechargeable battery. Inother embodiments, the power supply 86 may be a connection to a vehicleelectrical system. For example, the components of the rear view mirror16 may draw electrical power from a CAN bus, vehicle battery, vehiclealternator, and/or other vehicle system to which the components of therear view mirror 16 are electrically connected.

In other embodiments, the rear view mirror 16 includes an integraltransceiver, such as a cellular transceiver, Bluetooth transceiver,etc., or a connection to a transceiver coupled to the vehicle in whichthe rear view mirror 16 is or will be mounted. Using this transceiverand/or additional hardware, the rear view mirror 16 may have or becapable of providing access to the internet and/or communication toother devices and/or hardware (e.g., using radio frequencytransmissions).

In one embodiment, the trainable transceiver 20 includes a rear viewmirror interface 88. The rear view mirror interface 88 may allow forcommunication between the trainable transceiver 20 and the controlcircuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16. In one embodiment, rear viewmirror interface 88 includes physical connection such as ports,connectors, wiring, and/or other hardware used to create an electricalconnection between the control circuit 24 of the trainable transceiver20 and the control circuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16. In alternativeembodiments, the control circuit 24 of the trainable transceiver 20 andthe control circuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16 are directly connected(e.g., wired such that outputs from one control circuit are received asinputs at the other control circuit and/or vice versa). In furtherembodiments, the rear view mirror interface 88 may include and/or beimplemented by computer programming, code, instructions, or othersoftware stored in memory in the trainable transceiver 20 and/or rearview mirror 16. Advantageously, the connection between the trainabletransceiver 20 and the rear view mirror 16 may allow for components ofthe rear view mirror 16 to serve two or more functions thus increasingthe usefulness of these components, reducing cost, and/or eliminatingthe need for duplicate components to provide additional functions to thetrainable transceiver 20. For example, the front facing camera 66 of therear view mirror 16 may be used for functions such as automaticallydimming the headlights (e.g., brights) of the vehicle 10 when theheadlights of an oncoming vehicle are detected by the front facingcamera 66 and/or control circuit 60. The front facing camera 66 may alsobe used for functions of the trainable transceiver 20 described in moredetail with reference to later figures such as identifying a garage dooropener.

The connection between the trainable transceiver 20 and the rear viewmirror hardware may allow the trainable transceiver 20 to control thehardware included in the rear view mirror 16, send control signalsand/or instructions to the control circuit 60 of the rear view mirror16, receive images and/or image data from the camera(s) (e.g., cameras66 and 68) included in the rear view mirror 16 (e.g., via the controlcircuit of the rear view mirror), receive control signals and/orinstructions, receive sensor information from sensors 80 included in therear view mirror 16 (e.g., via the control circuit 60 of the rear viewmirror 16), and/or otherwise interact with the rear view mirror 16and/or components thereof.

The trainable transceiver 20 may be configured to control, communicate,or otherwise operate in conjunction with the control circuit 60 of therear view mirror 16 to facilitate and/or perform the functions describedherein. In one embodiment, the trainable transceiver 20 communicateswith the control circuit 60 of the rear view mirror through a rear viewmirror interface 88. In other embodiments, the trainable transceiver 20communicates with the control circuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16directly (e.g., the control circuit 24 of the trainable transceiver 20communicates with the control circuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16).The trainable transceiver 20 may communicate and/or control the controlcircuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16 using a variety of techniques. Forexample, the trainable transceiver 20 may communicate with the rear viewmirror 16 through outputs from the trainable transceivers 20 received asinputs at the control circuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16, sending therear view mirror 16 a location in memory 64 which contains informationinstructions, data, or other information which is read by the controlcircuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16, sending the control circuit 60 ofthe rear view mirror 16 data, instructions, or other information througha bus, port, or other connection, or otherwise providing instructions,data, or information to the control circuit 60 of the rear view mirror16.

In some embodiments, the control circuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16communicates with the control circuit 24 of the trainable transceiver 20using the same of similar techniques. In other embodiments, thecommunication is one way with the trainable transceiver 20 sendinginstructions, data, or other information to the control circuit 60 ofthe rear view mirror 16. The trainable transceiver 20 may extract data,instructions, or other information from the control circuit 60 of therear view mirror 16 by reading the memory 64 of the rear view mirror 16and/or requesting from the control circuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16an address for a location in memory 64 in which the relevant informationcan be read. Alternatively, the control circuit 60 of the rear viewmirror 16 may send information to the trainable transceiver 20 but onlywhen requested by the trainable transceiver 20.

In some embodiments, the trainable transceiver 20 receives images and/orimage data from one or more cameras in communication with the rear viewmirror 16 (e.g., through the control circuit 60 and/or camera interface70 of the rear view mirror 16). The trainable transceiver 20 mayrequest, receive, and/or otherwise access images and/or image data fromcameras in communication with the rear view mirror 16 using the rearview mirror interface 88. Alternatively, the control circuit 24 of thetrainable transceiver 20 may request, receive, and/or otherwise accessimages and/or image data from cameras in communication with the rearview mirror 16 directly without the rear view mirror interface 88 insome embodiments. The trainable transceiver 20 may use images and/orimage data received from the rear view mirror 16 to facilitate and/orperform the functions described herein.

Advantageously, retrieving images from the front facing camera 66 in therear view mirror housing may provide better image quality than imagesfrom other front facing cameras 18 (e.g., bumper mounted cameras). Thefront facing camera 66 mounted in the rear view mirror housing isprotected by the glass of the windshield from damage (e.g., due toabrasion from particles from the road or other sources). Additionally,the front facing camera 66 mounted in the rear view mirror 16 is likelyto have a less obstructed view than other cameras as the windshieldwipers clear water, debris, and/or other obstructions which may obscurethe camera's field of view. This may provide the trainable transceiver20 with more accurate images and/or higher quality images for use in thefunctions described herein.

In one embodiment, the trainable transceiver 20 is configured to provideoutput to a vehicle occupant using the display 72 and/or speaker 76 ofthe rear view mirror 16. The trainable transceiver 20 may control theoutput of the rear view mirror 16 by sending control signals,instructions, information, and/or data to the rear view mirror 16 orotherwise control the display 72 and/or speaker 76 of the rear viewmirror 16. In one embodiment, the trainable transceiver 20 controls theoutput of the rear view mirror 16 using the rear view mirror interface88. For example, the rear view mirror interface 88 may formatinstructions, control signals, and/or information such that it can bereceived and/or processed by the control circuit 60 of the rear viewmirror 16. In other embodiments, the control circuit 24 of the trainabletransceiver 20 may communicate directly with the control circuit 60 ofthe rear view mirror 16. The control circuit 60 of the rear view mirror16 may handle, process, output, forward and/or otherwise manipulateinstructions, control signals, data, and/or other information from thetrainable transceiver 20. In other embodiments, the control circuit 60of the rear view mirror 16 forwards, routes, or otherwise directs theinstructions, control signals, outputs, data, and/or other informationto other components of the rear view mirror 16 without additionalprocessing or manipulation. For example, the trainable transceiver 20may output a frame buffer to the control circuit 60 of the rear viewmirror 16 which then routes the frame buffer to the display 72 withoutfurther manipulation. This may include storing the frame buffer inmemory 64 included in the control circuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16and sending an address corresponding to the frame buffer to the display64. As described in greater detail with respect to later figures, thedisplay 72 may be used by the trainable transceiver 20 to communicateinformation to a vehicle occupant regarding a home electronics device,remote device, mobile communication device, or other device controlledby and/or in communication with the trainable transceiver 20.

Advantageously, displaying information related to the trainabletransceiver 20 using the display 72 of the rear view mirror 16 may makea user more likely to view the information. Vehicle occupants,particularly the driver, are accustomed to looking at the rear viewmirror 16 frequently. A vehicle driver may be particularly likely tolook at the rear view mirror 16 while reversing out of a garage and/ordown a driveway. As such, a vehicle driver is more likely to seeinformation from the trainable transceiver 20 related to a homeelectronics device (e.g., a garage door opener) if the information isdisplayed on the rear view mirror 16 rather than in another location.

The same or similar techniques as described above may be used to controlthe speaker 76 of the rear view mirror 16 for use with the trainabletransceiver 12. As described in greater detail with respect to laterfigures, the speaker 76 may be used by the trainable transceiver 20 tocommunicate information to a vehicle occupant regarding a homeelectronics device, remote device, mobile communication device, or otherdevice controlled by and/or in communication with the trainabletransceiver 20.

The trainable transceiver 20 may be configured to receive inputs fromthe sensors 80 of the rear view mirror 16 and/or control sensors of therear view mirror 16. The trainable transceiver 20 may access sensor dataand/or control sensor data through the rear view mirror interface 88and/or the control circuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16. In otherembodiments, sensor data may be accessed and/or sensors controlled bythe control circuit 24 of the trainable transceiver 20 and/or thecontrol circuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16. The trainable transceiver20 may receive sensor data and process, transmit, format, send data toother devices, and/or otherwise manipulate the sensor data. Thetrainable transceiver 20 may also control sensors. For example, thetrainable transceiver 20 may turn sensors on or off, calibrate sensors,and/or otherwise manipulate sensors. In some embodiments, the trainabletransceiver 20 receives commands, instructions, data, and/or otherinformation through one or more sensors. For example, the trainabletransceiver 20 may receive voice commands from a user through themicrophone 84. Continuing the example, data may be optically receivedusing the light sensor 82. In some embodiments, the trainabletransceiver 20 receives information (e.g., information input throughphysical interaction with the rear view mirror) through theaccelerometer of the rear view mirror.

In some embodiments, the trainable transceiver 20 receives inputs fromthe operator input device 74 of the rear view mirror 16 (e.g., via thecontrol circuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16 and/or the rear viewmirror interface 88). The trainable transceiver 20 may send a controlsignal, instructions, information or otherwise communicate with thecontrol circuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16 to cause inputs to becommunicated to the trainable transceiver 20. The trainable transceiver20 may use the operator input device 74 of the rear view mirror 16 toaugment or replace the operator input device 22 associated with thetrainable transceiver 20.

In some embodiments, the trainable transceiver 20 draws electrical powerthrough a connection with the power supply 86 included in the rear viewmirror 16. As explained above, the power supply 86 may provide power tothe rear view mirror 16 from the electrical system of the vehicle and/ora battery. The trainable transceiver 20 may draw power from the powersupply 86 as well. For example, the trainable transceiver 20 may beconnected to the power supply 86 through the rear view mirror interface88. Alternatively, components of the trainable transceiver 20 may drawpower from direct connections to the power supply 86. In otherembodiments, the trainable transceiver 20 draws power from the controlcircuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16 which in turn draws power from thepower supply 86.

In one embodiment, the trainable transceiver 20 may use the transceiverincluded in the rear view mirror and/or coupled to the rear view mirror(e.g., a transceiver mounted in the vehicle) to send and/or receiveactivation signals, control signals, images, image data, and/or otherinformation. For example, the trainable transceiver 20 may configure thetransceiver and/or control circuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16 suchthat images and/or image data from a remote camera may be received(e.g., a camera included in or coupled to a home electronic device). Inother embodiments, the trainable transceiver 20 may use the transceiverto access the internet and/or other device (e.g., home electronicdevices, remote devices, mobile communications devices, networkingdevices, etc.). This may allow the trainable transceiver 20 to receiveimages and/or image data from remote cameras. For example, the trainabletransceiver 20 may access, through the transceiver and/or internet) anIP camera located remote from the vehicle 10 and retrieve images and/orimage data.

The trainable transceiver 20 may be physically attached to or otherwiseincluded in the rear view mirror 16. In one embodiment, the trainabletransceiver 20 may be added to or otherwise installed by wiring the rearview mirror interface and/or other components to one or more componentsof the rear view mirror 16 (e.g., the power supply 86, and/or thecontrol circuit 60). As part of a retrofit instillation, the trainabletransceiver 20 may be physically coupled to the rear view mirror 16. Forexample, a housing containing one or more components of the trainabletransceiver 20 may be coupled to a housing of the rear view mirror 16.In other embodiments, the trainable transceiver 20 (e.g., one or morecomponents of the trainable transceiver 20) may be a module or packageincluded within the housing of the rear view mirror 16. For example, thetrainable transceiver 20 may be attached to rear view mirror hardware(e.g., the rear view mirror interface 88 wired to the power supply 86and/or the control circuit 60 of the rear view mirror 16), and thetrainable transceiver 20 and rear view mirror hardware placed within asingle housing.

Referring now to FIG. 2E, an exemplary embodiment of an integratedtrainable transceiver and rear view mirror is illustrated as anintegrated system 100. The unique components of the trainabletransceiver 20 may be integrated with the components of a rear viewmirror in the integrated system 100. Advantageously, this allows therear view mirror 100 to have the functionality of the trainabletransceiver 20 described herein and for the trainable transceiver to usecomponents of the rear view mirror system as described herein therebyavoiding duplicative components and reducing cost. In one embodiment,the components associated with the trainable transceiver 20 and thecomponents associated with the rear view mirror 16 are located within arear view mirror housing or housings. The components may be packagedtogether as a single rear view mirror. In other embodiments, componentsof the integrated system may be located remote from one another, indifferent housings, or otherwise be part of a distributed system.

In some embodiments, the functions of both the trainable transceiver andthe rear view mirror may be facilitated and/or performed using a singlecontrol circuit 102. The single control circuit 102 may include aprocessor 104 and memory 106 which is shared by the functions of thetrainable transceiver and the functions of the rear view mirror. In someembodiments, the memory 106 of the single control circuit 102 includes arear view mirror module 108 containing database components, object codecomponents, script components, or any other type of informationstructure for supporting various activities and information structuresrelated to the functions of the rear view mirror. The memory may includea transceiver module 110 containing database components, object codecomponents, script components, or any other type of informationstructure for supporting various activities and information structuresrelated to the functions of the trainable transceiver. Thus, a singlecontrol circuit 102 may support and/or carry out the functions describedherein in reference to the trainable transceiver and the functions ofthe rear view mirror. In some embodiment, the control circuit 102allocates resources (e.g., processing, memory, control of other hardwarecomponents, and/or other hardware and software resources) betweenfunctions associated with the trainable transceiver and functionsassociated with the rear view mirror.

The integrated trainable transceiver and rear view mirror may includesome or all of the components described above with reference to FIG. 2D.For example, the integrated system 100 may include a display 112,speaker 114, sensors 116, camera interface 118, rear facing camera 120,and/or front facing camera 122. These components may have the samefunctions with respect to the trainable transceiver and the rear viewmirror as described above.

In one embodiment, the integrated system 100 includes a transceivercircuit 124. The transceiver circuit 124 may be used, as previouslydescribed, to send activation signals and/or communicate with homeelectronic devices, remote device, mobile communications device, networkdevice, or other hardware. The integrated system 100 may also includeone or more additional transceivers 126 as previously described.Additional transceivers 126 may allow for and/or facilitatecommunication between the integrated system 100 and other devices. Inone embodiment, the additional transceiver 126 is or includes a cellulartransceiver and/or other hardware providing the integrated system withaccess to the internet. Advantageously, including a transceiver circuit124 and/or additional transceiver 126 in one or more rear view mirrorhousings may locate the transceiver in a good location for improvingreception and/or transmission of wireless signals. The integrated system100 including the rear view mirror and therefore the transceiver may bepositioned high on the vehicle and be at least partially surrounded byglass. This may improve transmission and/or reception range, quality,and/or other characteristics.

In one embodiment, the input devices of the integrated system are sharedbetween functions related to the rear view mirror and functions relatedto the trainable transceiver. For example, a single button 128 mayprovide input related to either the trainable transceiver or the rearview mirror depending on which function controls the resource. Forexample, a single button 128 may cause the control circuit 102 to dimthe mirror when the control circuit 102 treats the button 128 as aresource related to the rear view mirror functions, and the same button128 may cause the control circuit 102 to send an activation signal usingthe transceiver circuit 124 when the control circuit 102 treats thebutton 128 as a resource related to the trainable transceiver functions.Advantageously, this may allow the integrated system 100 to sharebuttons 128 or other input devices for different functions and therebysimplify the system and/or reduce cost. The same sharing of hardwarecomponents may apply to input devices such as a microphone 129 and/oroutput devices such as the display 112 and/or speaker 114. The controlcircuit 102 may arbitrate inputs based on a variety of factors. Forexample, the control circuit 102 may take into account, inputs selectingwhich function the user wishes to control (e.g., a button to switchbetween functions, what function the previous input, output, or otheraction was related to, geographic proximity to a device controlled bythe functions of the trainable transceiver, and/or other factors).

Using the above described hardware, software, and/or other components, atrainable transceiver may perform a variety of functions. Thesefunctions may enhance the usability, convenience, and/or otherwiseimprove a trainable transceiver system from the user's perspective. Thetrainable transceiver may be any of the embodiments discussed above(e.g., stand alone, coupled to a rear view mirror, integrated with arear view mirror, etc.) and/or be a combination of any of the componentsdescribed above.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an embodiment of the trainable transceiver 20is illustrated sending an activation signal 130 to a garage door opener132 (e.g., home electronics device). In one embodiment, the trainabletransceiver 20 automatically sends an activation signal to the garagedoor opener 132 when the corresponding garage door 134 has beendetected. The garage door 134 may be detected, differentiated, and/orotherwise recognized by the trainable transceiver 20 using one or moreimages and/or image data from a camera (e.g., the forward facing camera18). Images and/or image data may be received by the control circuit andanalyzed using image processing techniques, image processing algorithms,object/image recognition techniques or algorithms, object detectionalgorithms, and/or other image analysis techniques. The image(s) and/orimage data provided by one or more cameras may be compared to one ormore comparison images of the garage door 134.

The comparison images may be images of the garage door 134 correspondingto a garage door opener 132 for which activation signal information(e.g., frequency, encryption information, etc.) is known. Thesecomparison images may be stored in memory local to the trainabletransceiver 20 and/or vehicle 10, stored in a remote database (e.g., aserver) and accessed by the trainable transceiver 20 through wirelesscommunication, and/or otherwise made accessible to the control circuitof the trainable transceiver 20. Activation signal information may bestored along with the corresponding comparison image such that theactivation signal information may be retrieved for a correspondingcomparison image when a sensed image is found to match the comparisonimage.

If the image from the camera is determined to match (e.g., within atolerance) the comparison image, the trainable transceiver 20 sends anactivation signal 130 formatted based on the activation signalinformation corresponding to the comparison image. The activation signal130 may be formatted using activation signal information retrieved fromthe storage location in which the comparison image is stored. Forexample, if a sensed image is determined to match a comparison imagestored in local memory, the control circuit may read the local memory toretrieve the activation signal information corresponding to thecomparison image. Using the parameters contained within the activationsignal information, the control circuit may format a control signal tobe sent by the transceiver circuit such that the activation signal 130will control or otherwise communicate with the garage door opener 132corresponding to the comparison image (and sensed image from thecamera). The sensed image from the camera may be from any camera mountedin or on the vehicle. Images from multiple cameras may be analyzed. Inone embodiment, the control circuit analyzes only images from the frontor rear facing cameras of the vehicle. In further embodiments, thecontrol circuit only analyzes images from the front facing camera 18.Alternatively, the control circuit may be configured to analyze imagesonly from the rear facing camera.

In some embodiments, the control circuit analyses images form one ormore cameras continuously. In other embodiments, the control circuitactivates one or more cameras at intervals in order to capture imagesfor processing. For example, images may be analyzed every thirtyseconds. Other intervals are possible. In still further embodiments,images from one or more cameras are analyzed upon the occurrence of atriggering event. For example, the trainable transceiver may analyzeimages when it has detected that it is within a geographic boundary areain relation to a home electronic device, remote device, mobilecommunication device, network device, or other device for which thetrainable transceiver is trained to control or otherwise communicatewith the device. Advantageously, this may save processing power as thetrainable transceiver is not analyzing images continuously but isinstead only analyzing images when the trainable transceiver is within ageographic boundary. Positioning information may be provided by a globalpositioning system (GPS) transceiver, determined based on a cellulartransceiver (e.g., triangulation between cells), determined based ondead reckoning, and/or determined using other positioning techniques. Insome embodiments, the trainable transceiver includes a GPS transceiver.In other embodiments, the trainable transceiver receives positioninginformation from a GPS transceiver or receiver coupled to the vehicleelectronics system or rear view mirror. In further embodiments, thetrainable transceiver receives positioning information from a mobilecommunications device, networking device, or other source. Positioninginformation related to the geographic boundary which triggers imageanalysis may be stored in the memory of the trainable transceiver.

For example, a trainable transceiver may determine that is near a homeelectronic device (e.g., within 20 meters). The determination may bebased on GPS position data received by the trainable transceiver as tothe current position of the trainable transceiver. The trainabletransceiver may compare its current position to positions stored inmemory (e.g., locally stored) corresponding to the devices the trainabletransceiver has been trained to control. Position information for thedevices may be acquired as part of training the trainable transceiver tocontrol the device. If the comparison results in the determination thatthe trainable transceiver is near a home electronic device, thetrainable transceiver may begin to identify or attempt to identify ahome electronic device based on images received from one or morecameras. This process may be used with respect to devices other thanhome electronics devices.

In some embodiments, the trainable transceiver stops analyzing imagesupon sending an activation signal. The trainable transceiver may stopanalyzing images when it has detected that it is outside of a geographicboundary associated with a device the trainable transceiver is trainedto control. In further embodiments, the trainable transceiver may stopanalyzing images after a period of time and/or a set number of failedcomparisons.

In further embodiments, activation signals, control signals, and/orother information may be communicated with additional home electronicdevices, remote devices, mobile communications device, network devices,and/or other devices when the trainable transceiver detects a garagedoor using one or more cameras. The same techniques described above maybe used to automatically or otherwise control these devices. Forexample, upon detecting a garage door which matches the comparisonimage, the trainable transceiver may send an activation signal to asecurity system (e.g., disarming the security system), home lightingdevice (e.g., turning on the lights in a home), security gate (e.g.,closing the gate behind the vehicle), appliance (e.g., turning on atelevision), remote device (e.g., turning on a laptop computer), etc.Any device configured to be controlled by and/or communicate with thetrainable transceiver may have functions which are triggeredautomatically when the trainable transceiver determines that a sensedimage matches a comparison image. In some embodiments, multipleactivation signals or other communication signals may be sent to aplurality of devices upon detection of a single image. For example, thetrainable transceiver may store a single comparison image for use withmultiple devices such that when a sensed image is determined to matchthe comparison image, multiple activation signals are sent. Eachactivation signal may correspond to one of the devices using the samecomparison image.

In some embodiments, the comparison image may be an image other than ofa garage door. Advantageously, this allows a user to have automaticcontrol over one or more devices even if the user does not have agarage. For example, the comparison image may be an image of a streetsign, home, gate, building, mailbox, parking structure, or other object.An image of any object may be used. In some embodiments, the trainabletransceiver may ensure that the object is positioned such that whendetected, the device to be controlled by the trainable transceiver(e.g., home electronic device) is within range of the transceivercircuit. For example, the trainable transceiver may send a test signalduring training.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A-4B, the trainable transceiver may detect agarage door 134 corresponding to a garage door opener based on an image136 on the garage door 134 in some embodiments. Advantageously,detecting a particular image 136 on a garage door 134 may require lesscomputing resources, be more accurate, provide a greater amount ofinformation, or otherwise be preferable to detecting a garage door 134based on an image of the garage door 134 itself.

In one embodiment, the garage door 134 includes a machine readable image136 as illustrated in FIG. 4A. The machine readable image 136 may beread by the trainable transceiver and one or more cameras incommunication in the trainable transceiver 20 (e.g., a front facingcamera 66 mounted in the rear view mirror 16).

Referring now to FIG. 4B, the machine readable image and/or other imageis invisible to the human eye in some embodiments. The image, object,and/or machine readable image 138 used by the trainable transceiver 20as described above may be visible to a camera (e.g., camera 18 or camera66) but be invisible to the human. Advantageously, the invisible image138 may be more aesthetically pleasing than a visible image. Theinvisible image 138 may also provide an advantage by keeping the encodedinformation more secure than if it was visible to any person passing bythe image.

Referring generally to FIGS. 4A-4C, the image used to identify the homeelectronics device, remote device, network device, or other device maybe generated by a user of the trainable transceiver 20 in someembodiments. This may allow a user to retrofit an existing garage dooropener or other device such that it may be automatically controlled bythe trainable transceiver 20 using camera detection of the image. Forexample, a user may provide a comparison image taken with a camera,apply an invisible ink to the garage door or other object, attach asticker to the garage door or other object which includes a machinereadable image (either a visible image 136 or invisible image 138), orotherwise provide a way to identify a device controlled by the trainabletransceiver 20. In other embodiments, ink, a sticker, or image may beprovided with a garage door opener or other device which identifies thedevice. In further embodiments, the garage door or other object mayinclude a preprinted visible or invisible image which identifies adevice associated with the object.

Referring not to FIG. 4C, a home electronic device, remote device, orother device configured to be controlled by the trainable transceivermay include one or more light sources 140 which produce light in aspectrum other than visible light. For example, the light source 140 mayproduce infrared light, ultraviolet light, or otherwise producenon-visible electromagnetic radiation. The light source 140 may bemounted on a garage door 134, garage 142, or other location with a lineof sight to a camera associated with a vehicle 10. In some embodiments,the light from the light source 140 is used to identify thecorresponding device to the trainable transceiver 20 (e.g., bytransmitting, using light, identification information to a camera orother sensor). The light source 140 may be coupled to the device itidentifies. The device may control and or power the light source 140. Insome embodiments, the light source 140 is battery powered or otherwisenot electrically coupled to the device it identifies.

As described with reference to FIG. 3 above, a single machine readableimage 136, invisible image 138, light source 140 and/or other source ofidentification may identify a plurality of devices. The trainabletransceiver 20 may send a plurality of activation signals upon reading asingle machine readable image 136, detecting a single invisible image138, and/or receiving information from a light source 140.

Referring now to FIG. 5A, the trainable transceiver may use acombination of cameras and positioning information to control multiplegarage doors corresponding to a plurality of locations. For example, thetrainable transceiver may be trained to operate two garage door openersat one location and two garage door openers at a second location. Usinga positioning data (e.g., based on a GPS signal, dead reckoning,cellular triangulation, and/or other locating techniques), the trainabletransceiver may determine if it is within a geographic boundary 150. Inone embodiment, the geographic boundary 150 is based on the location ofthe device for which the trainable transceiver is trained to control.Each device may have its own geographic boundary 150. In otherembodiments, the geographic boundary 150 is determined by thelocation(s) at which the trainable transceiver is trained. Thegeographic boundaries of multiple devices may be consolidated into asingle geographic boundary 150 for a location (e.g., a first geographicboundary 150 a for a first home 152 a and a second geographic boundary150 b for a second home 152 b). In some embodiments, the position of thedevice or position for the geographic boundary 150 is determined usingGPS data received when the trainable transceiver is trained to operate adevice.

The trainable transceiver may determine that it is within the geographicboundary 150. When within the geographic boundary 150, the trainabletransceiver may attempt to identify devices that are located within thegeographic boundary 150 using the techniques described above. This mayallow the use of the same identifier for two different locations. Thetrainable transceiver will only attempt to identify and therefore onlycontrol the device which is located within the same geographic boundary150 as the trainable transceiver. Within the geographic boundary 150,devices may be identified by using different comparison images,different identification information, or otherwise be differentiatedaccording to the techniques described above. The device may have thesame identification information but may have separate activation signalparameters (e.g., frequencies, rolling codes, etc.).

Therefore, the first home 152 a and the second home 152 b may have thesame identifier for the left garage door 154 and the same identifier forthe right garage door 156. The trainable transceiver will send theappropriate activation signal because while in the geographic boundary150A for the first home 152A because it will only attempt to identifydevices stored as corresponding to the geographic boundary 150 a. Forexample, the trainable transceiver will not seek to match an image tothe left door 154 of the second home 152 b because it is outside thegeographic boundary 150 a. If the trainable transceiver does find amatch, then it will send the activation code formatted to control thedevice associated with the left garage door 154 of the first home 152 abecause it is in the same geographic boundary 150 a. If the imagematches the right garage door 156 then the trainable transceiver willsend the activation code corresponding to that appropriate garage dooropener.

Referring now to FIG. 5B, the trainable transceiver may use thetechniques described above to control multiple garage doorscorresponding to a plurality of locations. For example, the trainabletransceiver may be trained to operate two garage door openers 162 and164 at a first location 160 and two garage door openers 166 and 168 at asecond location 165. Each device may have a separate image and/oridentification information in a machine readable or other image.Therefore, the trainable transceiver will operate the correct garagedoor opener via activation signal when the sensed image oridentification information matches the unique stored comparison image oridentification information corresponding to the garage door opener.

The techniques described above with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B may beused to control devices other than garage door openers. The abovedescribed techniques may be used to control multiple devices at multiplelocations with devices being any of home electronic devices, remotedevices, mobile communications devices, network devices, and/or otherdevices.

In some embodiments, the above techniques described with reference toFIGS. 5A and 5B may be used to control one of a plurality of homeelectronic devices, remote devices, or other devices in a single area(e.g., at a single home, single office, or other grouped location). Forexample, a garage may have a plurality of doors each individuallycontrolled by a garage door opener (e.g., as in a two or three cargarage). The trainable transceiver may be trained to operate all threegarage door openers. The trainable transceiver may send an activationsignal formatted to control the garage door opener corresponding to thegarage door in front of the vehicle. For example, the vehicle mayapproach one of the garage doors. Upon identifying the garage dooropener based on one of the techniques described above (e.g., an image onthe garage door), the trainable transceiver may automatically send anactivation signal formatted to control the garage door openercorresponding to the garage door in front of the vehicle. Positioninginformation may also be used to narrow the pool of comparison images orstored identification information against which the trainabletransceiver attempts to match a sensed image or read identificationinformation. For example, the trainable transceiver may use positioninginformation to determine that the vehicle is closer to the two leftmostgarage doors of a three car garage. The trainable transceiver may thenonly attempt to match a sensed image or read identification informationto the comparison images or stored identification information for two ofthe three garage door openers.

Referring now to FIG. 5C, the trainable transceiver 20 may include, insome embodiments, a GPS interface 260 for receiving information and/ordata regarding the position or location of the trainable transceiver 20.In some embodiments, GPS information may be used in place of or inconjunction with the above described techniques to determine theposition of the vehicle in the garage. For example, a user may positionthe vehicle such that it is well positioned in the garage. The user maythen set the position of the vehicle (e.g., through an input on anoperator input device 22). The trainable transceiver 20 may store thecurrent position of the trainable transceiver 20 (and therefore thevehicle) based on GPS information received through the GPS interface260. GPS information received as the vehicle is pulled into the garagemay be compared against the GPS information stored when the vehicle waswell positioned in the garage. The trainable transceiver 20 maydetermine if the vehicle is well positioned based entirely or in part onthe difference between the sensed GPS position and the stored GPSposition.

In some embodiments, the GPS interface 260 includes a transceiverconfigured to receive position information, location information, GPDcoordinates, and/or other information from a GPS source (e.g., asatellite source). In other embodiments, the GPS interface 260 isconfigured to receive position information, location information, GPDcoordinates, and/or other information from a connection with a vehicleelectronics system, from communication with another device (e.g., amobile communications device), and/or from another source.

Referring now to FIG. 6A, a trainable transceiver 20 having three inputbuttons 170 is illustrated according to an exemplary embodiment. In someembodiments, the trainable transceiver 20 automatically sends anactivation signal as described above with reference to FIG. 3. Thebuttons 170 of the trainable transceiver 20 may be configured toactivate the devices the trainable transceiver 20 is trained to control.The buttons 170 may allow a user to manually activate the device ratherthan relying on the trainable transceiver 20 to automatically send theactivation signal. The buttons 170 may be a redundant set of controls.In other embodiments, the trainable transceiver 20 does notautomatically send an activation signal. For example, one button 170 maybe configured to operate multiple devices with each device at adifferent location (e.g., the left button 170 may operate a garage dooropener at a home and a different garage door opener at a vacation home).Upon a user pressing the button 170, the trainable transceiver 20 maydetermine which activation signal to send using one of the previouslydescribed techniques. For example, the trainable transceiver 20 maydetermine to send the control signal for operating the garage dooropener at the vacation home based on image of the associated garage doorfrom a camera matching a comparison image stored in memory whichcorresponds to the garage door opener for the vacation home. Multiplebuttons 170 may have multiple location dependent functions with theproper activation signal being determined using one of the abovedescribed techniques.

Referring now to FIG. 6B, a trainable transceiver 20 having a singlemultiple channel button 172 is illustrated according to an exemplaryembodiment. In some embodiments, the trainable transceiver 20 does notautomatically identify and/or send activation signals as described abovewith reference to FIG. 3. The trainable transceiver 20 may attempt toidentify a home electronic device, remote device, and/or other devicesupon receiving a user input (e.g., a button press). Upon receiving theinput, the trainable transceiver 20 may activate one or more cameras,receive images form one or more cameras, request images from one or morecameras, and/or otherwise access current images and/or image data fromone or more cameras. The trainable transceiver 20 may then use one ormore of the techniques described above to identify a device which thetrainable transceiver has been trained to control. For example, thetrainable transceiver 20 may compare a sensed image of a garage door toa stored comparison image of the garage door corresponding to the garagedoor opener the trainable transceiver 20 has been trained to control.Upon identifying a device the trainable transceiver 20 is trained tocontrol, the trainable transceiver 20 may format and/or send anactivation signal to the device.

Advantageously, the single multiple channel button 172 may allow a userto control a plurality of devices with a single input button or otherdevice. The trainable transceiver 20 used the identification techniquespreviously described to discriminate between devices it is trained tocontrol in order to control the device the used wants to control basedon the images and/or image data from one or cameras. Thus, a user maycontrol multiple devices with a single input and control the desireddevice based on the location of the vehicle (e.g., what images and/orobjects the camera(s) associated with the vehicle detect). In someembodiments, the trainable transceiver 20 may discriminate betweendevices without using GPS positioning information. For example, thetrainable transceiver 20 may discriminate between devices using onlycamera based techniques. This may provide an advantage as the trainabletransceiver 20 would not require additional hardware such as a GPStransceiver and would therefore be simpler.

The construction and arrangement of the systems and methods as shown inthe various exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only afew embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, manymodifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions,structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values ofparameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,orientations, etc.). For example, the position of elements may bereversed or otherwise varied and the nature or number of discreteelements or positions may be altered or varied. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thepresent disclosure. The order or sequence of any process or method stepsmay be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments.Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be madein the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplaryembodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure contemplates methods, systems and programproducts on any machine-readable media for accomplishing variousoperations. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implementedusing existing computer processors, or by a special purpose computerprocessor for an appropriate system, incorporated for this or anotherpurpose, or by a hardwired system. Embodiments within the scope of thepresent disclosure include program products comprising machine-readablemedia for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or datastructures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be anyavailable media that can be accessed by a general purpose or specialpurpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example,such machine-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROMor other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magneticstorage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or storedesired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions ordata structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose orspecial purpose computer or other machine with a processor. Combinationsof the above are also included within the scope of machine-readablemedia. Machine-executable instructions include, for example,instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform acertain function or group of functions.

Although the figures show a specific order of method steps, the order ofthe steps may differ from what is depicted. Also two or more steps maybe performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Such variationwill depend on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designerchoice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure.Likewise, software implementations could be accomplished with standardprogramming techniques with rule based logic and other logic toaccomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparisonsteps and decision steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for installation in a vehicle and forcontrolling a remote device, comprising: a camera; a trainabletransceiver; and a control circuit coupled to the camera and thetrainable transceiver, the control circuit configured to use geographiclocation information to determine when to initiate a process of usingthe camera to identify the remote device and transmit an activationsignal formatted to control the remote device, wherein, upon initiationof the process, the control circuit is configured to use the camera toidentify the remote device by comparing information received via thecamera to information stored in memory, and wherein the control circuitis configured to automatically transmit an activation signal formattedto control the remote device, using the trainable transceiver, inresponse to identifying the remote device.
 2. The system of claim 1,further comprising a positioning system coupled to the control circuitand configured to provide the geographic location information to thecontrol circuit.
 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising apositioning system interface coupled to the control circuit andconfigured receive the geographic location information from a vehiclesystem or mobile communications device and to provide the geographiclocation information to the control circuit.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein the control circuit is configured to use geographic informationcorresponding with a location of the remote device and stored in memoryto define a geographic boundary in relation to the remote device.
 5. Thesystem of claim 4, wherein the control circuit is configured to initiatethe process of using the camera to identify the remote device when thecontrol circuit determines that a current location of the system iswithin the geographic boundary.
 6. The system of claim 4, wherein thegeographic boundary is determined based on the location of the remotedevice stored in memory and a predetermined geographic boundarydistance.
 7. The system of claim 4, wherein the control circuit isconfigured to store the geographic information corresponding with thelocation of the remote device during a training process in which thesystem is trained to control the remote device.
 8. A system forinstallation in a vehicle and for controlling a remote device,comprising: a trainable transceiver; a camera; and a control circuitcoupled to the trainable transceiver and the camera, wherein the controlcircuit is configured to use the camera to identify the remote device by(A) comparing information received via the camera to information storedin memory and (B) comparing geographic location informationcorresponding to a positon of the vehicle with geographic informationstored in memory and corresponding to one or more remote devices, andwherein the control circuit is configured to automatically transmit anactivation signal formatted to control the remote device, using thetrainable transceiver, in response to identifying the remote device. 9.The system of claim 8, wherein the control circuit is configured tostore the geographic information corresponding with locations of the oneor more remote devices during training processes in which the system istrained to control the one or more remote devices.
 10. The system ofclaim 8, wherein the control circuit is configured to create a firstgeographic boundary based on the geographic information stored in memoryand corresponding to a first remote device, and wherein the controlcircuit is configured to create a second geographic boundary based onthe geographic information stored in memory and corresponding to asecond remote device.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the controlcircuit is configured to identify, in part, the first remote device whenthe control circuit determines that the system is located within thefirst geographic boundary, and wherein the control circuit is configuredto identify, in part, the second remote device when the control circuitdetermines that the system is located within the second geographicboundary.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first remote deviceand the second remote device are associated with the same identifyinginformation to which the control circuit compares the informationreceived via the camera.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the firstremote device and the second remote device are associated with the samemachine readable image or identifying information contained within amachine readable image.
 14. A method controlling a remote device using asystem in a vehicle, comprising: receiving, at a control circuit of thesystem, geographic information corresponding to the location of thevehicle; comparing the geographic information corresponding to thelocation of the vehicle with geographic information stored in memory ofthe system and corresponding to the remote device; determining, based onthe comparison of the geographic information, whether the vehicle iswithin a predetermined distance of the remote device; and in response todetermining that the vehicle is within the predetermined distance:receiving, via a camera of the system and at the control circuit, imagedata; comparing, using the control circuit, the received image data toinformation stored in memory and corresponding to the remote device; andin response to identifying the remote device, via the comparison,transmitting an activation signal formatted to control the remotedevice.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the geographic informationcorresponding to the location of the vehicle is received from apositioning system coupled to the control circuit and configured toprovide the geographic location information to the control circuit. 16.The method of claim 14, wherein the geographic information correspondingto the location of the vehicle is received from a vehicle system ormobile communications device and to provide the geographic locationinformation to the control circuit.
 17. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising establishing a geographic boundary defined in relation tostored geographic information corresponding to the remote device. 18.The system of claim 17, wherein the control circuit is configured todetermine that the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of theremote device when a current location of the system is within thegeographic boundary.
 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the geographicboundary is established based on a location of the remote device storedin memory and a predetermined geographic boundary distance.
 20. Thesystem of claim 14, further comprising storing, in memory, thegeographic information corresponding to the remote device during atraining process in which the system is trained to control the remotedevice.